When Francesco Botto Poala, laid eyes on Otamatapaio Station 30 years ago he knew this was the one. Francesco first started coming to New Zealand in 1987 when he began looking for the right property to further the family plans - it took six years. “I fell in love…It is right.” It was so much more than a home away from home, he told the Ōmārama Gazette. “It is home – it is our home.” Last month the Botto Paola family celebrated 30 years of family times at Otamatapaio. The family is internationally known for its fine wool processing and textiles. Based in Biella, in Northern Italy, which has been a wool processing and textile centre for about 800 years, the Botto Poala family business, Reda, was established in 1865. Reda is the biggest buyer of quality, sustainable merino wool in the world, handling 2.5 million kilos of fibre a year that it produces into 7.5 million metres of cloth. It sources some of its merino wool from New Zealand and the rest from Australia. It exports to United States, European, Asian and Middle Eastern markets, and supplies fabric to such fashion industry names as Hugo Boss and .... >>> continue reading <<<